Why is he crazy about getting one? It doesn't have image stabilisation and doesn't support SD cards, it's a 2006 camera. If it's going for low tens of dollars and he is an enthusiast for old digital cameras it's a good model to collect. But it isn't a high end camera by today's standards. The best of the old pre-EXR SuperCCD compact models for image quality was the F40fd aka F45fd.

A Fujifilm XF1 can be bought new for US$199. There are some good Nikon 1 bargains on eBay too.

It depends on the condition, and how much is it worth to him. The range could be from $30 for the average condition samples, or up to $100 (or more, if sentimental value warrants it) for mint examples with original box. Functionally the camera is very outdated, but in right hands the images it produces withstand 100% pixel level view with almost DSLR quality, and at ISO400 and bellow the clarity and sharpness rival most similar sized cameras today, if not better when viewed 100%. It is also well made, unlike Fuji's modern equivalent XF1 which has about 50% chance of surviving first year without developing some variant of lens related malfunction.

I gave my F30 (virtually the same camera) to my girlfriend after getting a HS50 and comparing the high iso and indoor results (the reason I had kept the F30). Got a F900 for a pocket cam instead and it is definitely an upgrade.

I gave my F30 (virtually the same camera) to my girlfriend after getting a HS50 and comparing the high iso and indoor results (the reason I had kept the F30). Got a F900 for a pocket cam instead and it is definitely an upgrade.

Maybe F900 is an upgrade, but the F550 and F600 I had for a while were such a miserable experience (in quality issues and low light shooting), it put me off buying any more Fuji compact cameras until something changes in Fujifilm attitude concerning their less glamorous products. I ended up going back to F70, despite less zoom and noisier sensor. But at least I could focus reliably again, and not go through the kaleidoscope lens flare effects and poor IS. Not to mention the F200, which is in another league when it comes to making a quality, well rounded and competent camera.

I never thought I'd see the day when sanity and practicality would return to the Fuji Forum. I stayed away for a long time as I was put off by the legions of fanboys who would scream "blasphemer!" and bring out the pitchforks whenever someone said something less than flattering about the F31fd. Glad to see that those fanboys have finally gone the way of the dodo.

I never thought I'd see the day when sanity and practicality would return to the Fuji Forum. I stayed away for a long time as I was put off by the legions of fanboys who would scream "blasphemer!" and bring out the pitchforks whenever someone said something less than flattering about the F31fd. Glad to see that those fanboys have finally gone the way of the dodo.

It's obvious you just dropped from the left field and have no idea what is happening in this forum. The old fanboys, as you call them, are replaced with the new fans, who are pretty much equally crusading against any detractors of the present day Fuji cameras. The only difference is there is less of them, because the F31 was an exceptional camera in its time compared to the others of its time, and today's Fuji compacts (and bridges) are barely average. The fanboys you are referring to switched to other brands that offered something new while Fuji was sleepwalking (LX-3, S90, EX-1, etc), and later to other 4/3 and mirrorless camera formats. Sanity and practicality had nothing to do with this.

I gave my F30 (virtually the same camera) to my girlfriend after getting a HS50 and comparing the high iso and indoor results (the reason I had kept the F30). Got a F900 for a pocket cam instead and it is definitely an upgrade.

Maybe F900 is an upgrade, but the F550 and F600 I had for a while were such a miserable experience (in quality issues and low light shooting), it put me off buying any more Fuji compact cameras until something changes in Fujifilm attitude concerning their less glamorous products.

The F550 remains a real gem in their lineup. I shot many thousands of images with it and enjoyed every minute with it. I now shoot the net gen cam F770 and the new lens is a marvel.

In my opinion, the F550 stomps the F31fd into dust because you can shoot and process raw and the camera remains relatively fast while shooting raw.

F550 at 1600 ISO ... the F31 had neither the reach nor the detail retention to pull this shot off ...

This too, also 1600 ISO ...

Even 3200 ISO can be viable ...

But I do prefer 1600 as the upper limit ...

I ended up going back to F70, despite less zoom and noisier sensor.

Not in a million years ... I definitely liked the F70 and got lots of great shots with it, but the F550 and Lightroom stomp it into dust too ...

But at least I could focus reliably again, and not go through the kaleidoscope lens flare effects and poor IS. Not to mention the F200, which is in another league when it comes to making a quality, well rounded and competent camera.

I've shot all of these extensively and you are just plain wrong about that. I suspect you had a lemon.

I gave my F30 (virtually the same camera) to my girlfriend after getting a HS50 and comparing the high iso and indoor results (the reason I had kept the F30). Got a F900 for a pocket cam instead and it is definitely an upgrade.

Maybe F900 is an upgrade, but the F550 and F600 I had for a while were such a miserable experience (in quality issues and low light shooting), it put me off buying any more Fuji compact cameras until something changes in Fujifilm attitude concerning their less glamorous products.

The F550 remains a real gem in their lineup. I shot many thousands of images with it and enjoyed every minute with it. I now shoot the net gen cam F770 and the new lens is a marvel.

In my opinion, the F550 stomps the F31fd into dust because you can shoot and process raw and the camera remains relatively fast while shooting raw.

F550 at 1600 ISO ... the F31 had neither the reach nor the detail retention to pull this shot off ...

This too, also 1600 ISO ...

Even 3200 ISO can be viable ...

But I do prefer 1600 as the upper limit ...

I ended up going back to F70, despite less zoom and noisier sensor.

Not in a million years ... I definitely liked the F70 and got lots of great shots with it, but the F550 and Lightroom stomp it into dust too ...

But at least I could focus reliably again, and not go through the kaleidoscope lens flare effects and poor IS. Not to mention the F200, which is in another league when it comes to making a quality, well rounded and competent camera.

I've shot all of these extensively and you are just plain wrong about that. I suspect you had a lemon.

More like three lemons in a row, two F550's and one F600. All unusable for any work around bright lights or when good low light focusing is needed. Terrible low light video. Their complete failure in the marketplace speaks better then words about their perceived quality. But they are better for shooting crayons in high ISO low contrast still life tests, I can give you that.

More like three lemons in a row, two F550's and one F600. All unusable for any work around bright lights or when good low light focusing is needed. Terrible low light video. Their complete failure in the marketplace speaks better then words about their perceived quality. But they are better for shooting crayons in high ISO low contrast still life tests, I can give you that.

Bummer for you. That crack about the crayons reminds me another puerile debater ... you, though, are the master debater ... clearly.

Here are the first photos I took with the F900 virtually out of the box.

F30 P mode, auto iso 1600, iso actually 1600

F900, P mode, auto iso 1600, iso actually 1600.

The first thing I noticed was the instant focus on the F900 compared to the lag and hunting on the F30. Decide yourself whether that is an advance. Both straight out of camera, cropped in better jpg for no alterations.

Great little camera, amazing battery life, sharp little lens and the images hold up to 100% magnification surprisingly well at low ISO's. If you want a small pocketable camera which is easy to operate and does what it says on the tin then it's a steal. Are there newer options that do better? of course but that doesn't mean the F31 can't take great images in the right hands. There are also newer cameras which are not as good as this one and will cost more.

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Great little camera, amazing battery life, sharp little lens and the images hold up to 100% magnification surprisingly well at low ISO's. If you want a small pocketable camera which is easy to operate and does what it says on the tin then it's a steal.

Except that it is misleading to call it pocketable. More like coat or cargo pants pocketable.

Are there newer options that do better? of course but that doesn't mean the F31 can't take great images in the right hands. There are also newer cameras which are not as good as this one and will cost more.

It can take great images at low ISO. And if you avoid things that produce wicked CA, like trees or lights or windows or buildings ...

It is slow, has poor range at the short and long end, and uses cards that are no longer manufactured.

Here are the first photos I took with the F900 virtually out of the box.

F30 P mode, auto iso 1600, iso actually 1600

F900, P mode, auto iso 1600, iso actually 1600.

The first thing I noticed was the instant focus on the F900 compared to the lag and hunting on the F30. Decide yourself whether that is an advance. Both straight out of camera, cropped in better jpg for no alterations.